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RAISE TWO POTATOES, WHERE NOWWE RAISE ONE 




POTATOES 

liy Joseph 



'V?/o Xn V 






9 



J^AM^'^f^^^ 



TO the: AG re. 

^Tl ELD CROP/ 




FRANKLIN NEWS CO • PHILA 



OopTTlshted 1886, rrftnklln Revs 0». 



MONEY IN POTATOES. 



400 BUSHELS TO THE ACEE AS A FIELD CROP. 



A COMPLETE INSTRUCTOR FOR THE POTAT(J (iROWEll. 
OUR NEW SYSTEM FUELY EXPLAINED IN SEV- 
ENTEEN CHAPTERS AND FORTY LESSONS. 
WITH MANY ILLUSTRATIONS. AP- 
PENDIX. THE NP:WER VARIE- 
TIES, THEIR MERITS AND 
FAULTS. 



JiV rriSCO GRKINER {JOSEPH). 



FKOM DAY TO DAY THE NUMBKR OF MOUTHS TO BE 6'ET) 

FKO:\r KACK ACRE IN OUR COUNTRY INCREASES 

LET IS NEGLECT NO MEANS TO MUT^- 

TIT'T-Y THE J'RODUCT OF 

OUR LAND." 



PHTLADELP 

ViBAtTKLIN NEWS COMPANY 




PREFACE, 



It cannot be the intention of the author (wlio himself feels 
the res])onsibility for a small part of the modern potato litera- 
ture) to deny that the subject treated in the following pages 
has received its full share of attention by the agricultural 
press during the last decennium. 

Here are many valuable suggestions relating to potato cul- 
ture presented to the world, but being scattered over a wide 
space of time and territory, they are not accessible to the 
general reader. 

No apology is deemed necessary for the attem]>t to collect 
and sift all this matter, and present what is good (tf it (incor- 
jjorated into our own Original method) in a handy and inex- 
pensive form. We have been guided by the desire to teach 
common-sense methods, expose erroneous notions, and tell, in 
[dain words, how we have attaine<l success, and how the 
yener(d farmer can easily reach it. 

Is not the average i)otato yield ridiculously low? More 
knowledge on the subject is what the farmer needs to double it. 
May this work contribute toward makinf/ two potatoes f/roir 
where formerlij grew but one ; that is the heart-felt wish of 

The Authoi^. 
Naples, N. Y., February 1st, 1885. 



(CHAPTER I. 



SELECTION OE GROUND. 



Desirable Soilt^. Soils to be Avoided. Virgin Soil. Clover Sod.. 

Success in potato culture is obtainable not only in different 
climes, but also in a very great variety of soils. Under other- 
wise favorable conditions, the tuber will grow as well in clear 
sand as in stiff clay. The happy medium is generally the best. 
IjKSSO^i 1. — Soils varying between a sandy and day loam, if 
natarally drained and other ausc in proper condition, may 
be relied on for a projituble crop. 

A thin layer of fertile surface-soil, resting upon clay subsoil, 
which is impervious to water, sliould never be used for potatoes, 
not even if thorou'^hly untlerdraincd. 

The tubers are more apt to rot in heavy, sticky soils, par- 
ticularly in a wet season, than on light sandy or gravelly ones. 
IvKSSON 2. — Avoid all soils SO stiff tUat tliey cannot be 'perfectly 
fined, a)id pulverized. 

It is a very comniDn practice with farmers to plant potatoes 
on clover-sotl, plowed in the si)ring. This selection is a .(ood 
one, provided, however, that as in the case of young and r:ink- 
growing elover, the sod is such as to admit of thorough pulveri- 
zation, or that the field can be plowed early enough during the 
summer or fell previous to give ample time for the sward to 
rot and thus maive cross-plowing practicable. Otherwise, when 
the clover field is old and the roots of grasses and weeds are 
woven into a tough, thick sward, which cannot be easily broken 
and {)ulverized, it would be advisable to have a crop of wheat, 
rye, oats, or corri precede the ]>otato crop. 



An admirable selection: For Early Sorts— Clay loam, very 
rich. For Late Sorts— Sandy or gravelly loam, of medium fer- 
tility. Naturally drained, loose and mellow clover-sod, or stub- 
ble after stiti" sod is the best imaginable condition or state of 
cultivation in either case. 

The potato thrives best in a cool and moist climate or season. 
Its home is on lime-stone lands. 



CHAPTER 11. 



3IANURE AND ITIS APPLICATION. FEED THE 
LAND AND THE LAND WILL FEED YOU. 



Stable .Uauiire. Clover. Coiiimercial Fertilizers. Chemicals. 
Potato Pulp. 



Lesson 3. — /Stable muimrc should he fine and ihoronyJily rotted, 
spread evenly during the fall previous, and if on stubble, 
incorporated into the soil at once. 

Coarse, unfermented stable dung is nearly worthless for the 
potato crop, unless as a mulch on very porous and dry soils. 
Thoroughly rotted compost in moderate quantities is a good fer- 
tilizer for tall-growing varieties, while low-growing (early) 
sorts are greatly benefitted by more liberal applications. 

The clover on the pasture lot or meadow selected for a potato 
field should not be grazed or cut very late in the fall. We 
couhl hardly wish for a better fertilizer than a good growth of 
clover, covered during the foil with a coat of fine old manure or 
barn-yard scrai)ings, lighter or heavier— according to variety to 
he plnnred- and, if }.ossible, applied with a Kemp manure 
spreader or, at least, evenlv and finely distributed by means of 
harrow or otherwise. 

For stubble ground, fall manuring can be recommended only 
on condition that the manure is harrowed or cultivated into 
the soil and thus left until spring. 

Lesson 4.— A field which had been heavily manured for the 
preceding crop, is in first rate roiidifi<»> for a potato crop. 



On land manured the year previous, i>otatoes will do well 
without additional fertilizing, still the application of wood 
ashes or liuie often increases the yield. 

Newly applied stable manure seems to attract the wire-worms, 
and therefore has the tendency to produce scab in the tubers. 
Coarse manure is a frequent cause of prongs, protuberances, 
" fingers and toes." 

Commercial fertilizers meet with no objections of this kind. 
The fairest, smoothest and best shaped tubers are generally 
grown on well pulverized soils which were fertilized with 
chemical manures, or not at all the same season. 

Le.SSOX 5. — //* tite soil is in the riglit mechanical condition bat 
luckirKj infertility, the application of commercial manures 
often paps exceedingly ivell. 
In recommending such fertilizers, Ave enter debatable ground. 
Wliile we have never failed to see good results from the appli- 
cation of phosphates, etc., whenever we tried them on potatoes 
or other crops, there are many cases on record, as reported by 
difff rent farmers, where even complete fertilizers — those con- 
taining ammonia, phosphoric acid and potash — utterly refused 
to respond. Still we believe that the fault is witli the man 
oftcner than with the material. 

Lesson Ck— Apply the element or elements of 2)l<(nt food in, 
which your soil is deficient. 

Commercial manures and chemicals give us one great advan- 
tage. Of the three most important elements, ammonia, phos- 
piioric acid, and potasli, the soil may contain a sufficiency of 
one or two. If we know, from previous experiments, which 
these elements are, it will be only necessary to supply the one 
tliat is lacking. TIius, our own soils were always deficient in 
phosphoric acid, and therefore greatly benefitted by its appli- 
cation, next by that of potash, but not noticeably })y ammonia. 
On other soils ashes, or some other forms of potash, either 
alone or in combination with phosplioric acid, or ammonia will 
greatly increase the yield. 



8 

Lesson 7. — Safe in almost every case is the applicatioi} of 
complete manures. 
If previous experiments liave not been made to determine 
the relative proportion of these elements in the soil, complete 
manures like Mapes' or Stockbridge (Bowker) special potato 
fertilizers, Powell's potato producer etc., which contain the 
three ingredients in about the right proportion for the crop,, 
can be relied on with safety.''^ From 600 to SOO pounds to an acre 
siiould be applied broadcast, just before planting, and deeply 
liarrowed into tiie soil, or in drills, about an inch or two above 
tiie seed and covered by a few inches of soil. 

The well-known English experimenter, Sir J. B. Lawes of 
Rothamstead, used 300 pounds of sulphate of potash (130 pounds 
actual potash), 350 pounds superphosphate of lime, 540 pounds 
nirate of soda, to produce a crop of 400 bushels. This im-ans 
almost a mere manufacturing of the crop out of chemicals, 
without calling on the soil for assistance (as to the supply of 
raw material); and such manufacturing might be carried on 
year after year on the same land. 

The cost of raw material would be about as follows: — 
300 pounds of Sulphate Potash at 2A cents, . . $7.50 
350 pounds superphosphate at 3i cents, . , . 12.25 
540 pounds nitrate of .soda at 3 cents, , . . 16.20 

Total . . . $35.95 
Expensive as this manuring appears to be, we c(»uld well afford 
it, if thereby we make sure of a crop of 400 bushels. 

Where unleached wood-ashes are obtainable at little cost, 
ihey may take the place of sulphate of potash, and perhaps^ 
>^how better results at less expense. The cheapest source of 
phosphoric acid for potatoes, probably, is, dissolved South 
Carolina Rock, containing about 27 to 30 per cent, of ))orie- 
phosphate, and costing $16.00 per ton. 

Nitrate of soda is an awkward thing to handle, on ac<;«)unt 
of its great solubility, and dear also. However, it has this one 
great advantage; that there is no need of applying it sooner 
than the growing vines show the lack of it. Never apply it in 
the fall 



A rank growth of clover or of clover roots, turned under, 
sup))lies all the ammonia needed, and is generally the cheapest 
form in which ammonia can be obtained. This mauurial 
substance [days a very important ])art in giving thrift and lux- 
uriance to the foliage, and while large tops, in themselves, are 
not our object, we can hardly hope to reap a large crop of 
tubers without their assistance. 

Lesson 8. — Potato pulp is an exjicnsive manure, but the )nost 
necessary of all fertiliziiKj materials. 

The supply of ammonia, especially if scarce, should be sup- 
plemented, reinforced, as it were, by the application of potato- 
pulp, represented in a sajfieiniej/ of seed. 



CHAPTER III. 



PREFARINd THE SOIL. 

Fall and Spring Flowing. Fining rlie Soil. Marking. 
Depth ot'Fnrrows. The RnrnI .>lethod. 



In the selection of ground we took occasion to emphasize tlie 
necessity of iiaving land that would admit of being made fine- 
arid mellow. This, then, is the primary condition of success. 
Lesson 9. — 77/r jield nmsf he plowed or re-plowed just before 
plaiifimj. 

There is no need of plowing such land in the fall. When 
planting time draws nigh, carefully turn over that slice of sur- 
face soil, which has been in cultivation previously, if it has a 
thickness of from 7 to i) inches. It is not safe to turn up mort- 
than one-half inch of new soil in one year. Every balk left 
unredeemed, must necessarily diminish the yield. 
Lesson U).—R is of <p-eat importance to have that part of thr 
soil which is to serve as the feeding grounds for the j)otat(t 
roots, thoroughly pulverized. 

Tn some instances, cross-plowing may be advisable, or even 
necessary. Use a heavy harrow, or one heavily weighted wit!. 
a piece of plank or stick of timber ; let the teeth go down into the 



lU 

.soil clear to the beams. It will pay to use the Acme. If lumpy, 
roll, and repeat the harrowing and rolling as often as necessary 
to get the land in good condition,— that is,— perfectly pulveri- 
zed, as deep as practicable. This extra labor will pay you well. 
Lesson 11. — A good shovel-plow, or a common j^low is the best 
uapleiiient for making the farrows. 
Rows, straight and uniform in width are more satisfactory 
than crooked and irregular ones, if for no other reason than 
that the operator will take more pride in, and pains with his 
field. The use of a marker is therefore to be recommended. 
Have the marks three feet apart, and if there is nothing to 
hinder it, crosswise of the last plowing. Now follow each 
mark with the winged-shovel plow, pressing the same well 
down into the soil; or with a good comnion plow, drawn by 
one or two horses, making the furrows wide and deep. 

Mr. E. S. Carman, Editor of the Rural JVeiv Yorker, who cau 
boast of having obtained the greatest yields of potatoes on 
record, i. e., 1300 or more bushels to the acre, (in experiments 
made in the season of 1884), lays great stress on wide furrows, 
and the thorough i)ulverization of the soil in the bottom of the 
furrows, believing his extraordinary succsss to be due chiefly 
to a condition of the soil which offers the least resistance to 
the expansion of tubers. From this reason he recommends, 
at least for field culture, the use of a narrow cultivator in 
the bottom of plowed furrows. 

This operation of pulverizing the soil in the bottom of the 
trenches, while of little importance on loose, porous soils, which 
are thoroughly disintegrated by a single plowing, may be a 
matter of the greatest consequence on soils of more tenacious 
structure, especially it such were not well pulverized pre- 
viously. We suspect, however, that the multiplication of root- 
lets, consequent on the favorable condition (mellowness) of 
their feeding grounds, and the greater availability of their food 
supply, resulting from the same cause, should have the credit 
of being more potent factors in the }>rodiu'tion of extraordinary 
results than the removal of mere mechanical obstructions to 
the swelling of tlie tubers. 



11 

The bottom of the furrows must be made, or left about fout 
inches deep (below the level surface), a depth which generally 
proves to be the very best iu an average season. With very light 
seeding, however, 3 inches may be })referable, though it sliould 
not be less, thus interfering with our method of after-cultivation. 
o 

CHAPTER IV. 



SELECTION OF SEED. 



The Best Variety. For Home Use or Market. 
High Breeding of Potatoes. 

What variety to plant, is the next question. The answer 
depends very much on the use you intend to make of the crop. 
LKS80N 12. — Select the variety best adapted to your soil and 
market. 

In planting for home consumption, merely, the very first 
things to be considered are quality and yield. Almost all vari- 
eties differ in their relative worth on different soils, and no 
variety will do equally well on all kinds of soil. This varia- 
tion is so great, that one sort may be utterly worthless on one 
soil, or in one locality, and yet yield enormous crops in others. 
For family use, we plant the Early Ohio, the White Elephant 
and the Adirondack, All these are of exceptionally good 
quality, and, witli us, heavy croj»}iers. Tlie Early Ohio is 
distinguished l)y its extreme earliness; the Elephant, by its 
enormous yields; the Adirondack, by its superiority as a late 
keeper. 

These varieties, however, may not be tlie ones to Avhich your 
soil shows a particular j)artiality ; and the selection is proj)erly 
left with every planter. 

In many local markets, a potato is a potato; one sells as well 
as another. In such an emergency, the most desirable potato 
to be found, is the one which promises the heaviest yield. If 
tiiat happens to be one of inferior quality, like the Peerless, or 
Mammoth Pearl, it would seem to be of little consequence to 
you, though we should i)refer to sell to our customers tubers of 
the best quality. 



12 

The early bird catches the big worm, and to catch the big 
price in the early iiiarlcets, we need very early sorts. The 
Early Ohio, where it succeeds, is the variety for this pur- 
pose. It requires a rich clay loam, rather moist than other- 
wise, close planting and particularly lieavy seeding. Other 
seedlings of the Early Rose, like Early Vermont, Early Gem, 
Sunrise, Chicago Market, and Beauty of Hebron follow next. 
The Snowflake, though later, is also counted among the early 
sorts-. It is apt to ])roduce a large number of small, unmar- 
ketable tubers, and therefore needs lighter seeding. 

The leading late varieties, demanded in the lari^e city mar- 
kets, are the Burbank, White Star, White Elejthant, Peerless, 
Mammoth Pearl, O. K. Mammoth Prolific and Dnnmore Seed- 
ling. Plant the one of these which seems to suit your soil the 
"hest, and you cannot go amiss. Under no circumstances, plant 
at hap-hazard. Success or failure may depend on the selection 
of variety. Previous experience with ditferent sorts, on your 
own land, is the only infallible guide. The novice must ask 
his predecessor, or one or the other of his intelligent neigh- 
^)ors, if he is fortunate enimgh to have such, for the desired and 
desirable information. 

Another factor in the. case, hardly less important than the- 
selection of the variety required by your particular soil, locality 
or climate, is the selection of the right specimens for seed. 
Like produces like, it is said. That is true as far as it is meant. 
" What ye sow, that shall ye also reap." 

Lksson 13. — Only the fairest and smoot/ieat of the lanjer atuC 
medium sized tubers are Jit to be planted. 

(iood seed, persistently planted, year after year, will either 
result in an imj)rovement of the variety, or at least keep it 
from deteriorating. Refuse potatoes as seed may produce 
handsome crops for a year or two, or in excejjtionably favorable 
seasons, but if their use is continued, it must end in deterioration 
of the variety, in gradually decreased yields and at last in utter 
failure. 

We need, we want high-bred seed potatoes; they are of 
greater iniportance than high class poultry. The same care ii^ 



13 



selection sliould be exercised that the stock raiser (>r dairyman 
uses in tlie selection of his cattle. Reject all under-sized or 
badly-sliaj)ed specimens for seed. 

The best time for selectinir the seed is during the potato har- 

Test, the fall previous. 

, () 

CHAPTKU V 



CUTTIXa THE SEED. 

Single V.yv. Oris. Stiii-tevsiiit and Terrv. Yields Resulting 
from diliei-ent Amounts of Seed. Kelinble Tests. 

Various theories have been advanced and various methods ot 
•cutting the seed recommended. One of tlie latest of these, and 
widely practiced because the most ably defended, is the one-eye 
system, as advocated by Dr. Sturtevant, of tlie New York 
Experimental Station, and baptized '' Cutting from North-east 
to South-west," by B. F. Terry, its most enthusiastic champion. 

Figure 1 explains Dr. Sturtevant's dis- 
c(>very. Each bud is the terminus of a 
branch connecting it with its source of 
nutriment in the middle of the tuber. The 
•dotted lines indicate how the tuber should 
be cut in order to supply each eye with 
a share of this most important interior 
substance, in other words, to leave a rea- 
sonable amount of root to each coral branch. 

Dr. Sturtevant's statement, to the eflfect 
that merchantable tubers cut in this man- 
ner, have yielded him six times as much 
as eyes cut shallow, four times as much as 
those cut in the ordinary manner, and Figure 1 

twice as much as potatoes j)lanted whole, and Terry's and 
•other writer's reports, have done much towards popularizing 
■that method. 

J^KSSON 14.— T/ie sill f/le eye system, except fo7' soils exceedingly 
rich in ammonia, is a, delusion and a snare. 

Our own experiments during a series of years, faitlifully and 
j>ersistently repeated on diflferent soils and under different 




14 

conditions, have long since forced us to abandon our former 
partiality for light seeding, and to accept the inference that 
the cry " too much seed," raised by some writers, and resulting 
in the popular en-or of using an insufficient amount of seed, 
together witli the checii-row system, is the chief cause of the 
low average of the potato yield, which is but a fraction above 
eighty-five bushels to the acre. We have not held back with 
our views. Our cries of warning have sounded through the 
Agricultural press repeatedly. 

If Dr. Sturtevant, Terry, et al., -who, under peculiar eireuiu- 
stances, (on lands containing an excess of ammonia), or with 
peculiar knack, have made the one-eye system a success in 
their hands, now wish to induce the common farmer to adopt 
this system for their common farm soils, they proclaim a mis- 
chievous doctrine, which can only result in a further decrease of 
this low average yield. Meaning well, they do great harnu They 
are the false prophets, whose teachings, in this respect, we hear 
but not heed, while in many other respects we listen to them 
with the ears of the faithful. 

Lesson 15. — ^1 sufficiency of seed is the basis, the conditio sine 
qua non of oar 400 bushel crop on common farm soil. 

The amount of seed influences the yield fully as much, if not 
more, than any other single thing or circumstance, degree of 
fertility not excepted. 

Let us look at the theoretical side of the question. The 
chief function of the foliage is of a digestive character. The 
storage of a considerable amount of pulp in tubers, like the 
accumulation of flesh and fat in animals, is utterly impossible, 
even wMth an abundance of food, unless the digestive organs 
are fully developed and in perfect working order. You might 
make light of the absorptive powers of the foliage — as feeders 
in the air, — or of the benefits derived from their services as 
mulch, (which are not to be despised in a dry season), yet, you 
cannot dispute away the fact, that a diminution of the product 
in flesh or tuber, must be the inevitable consequence of every 
mutilation, crippling, or retarded and imperfect development 
of the digestive machinery. This influence of the amount of 



15 

foliage u]»()ii tlie yield, is full established by the eoiiii)anitive 
yields of early and late, that is of dwarf (low to])), and tall 
varieties, the latter out-yielding tlie former, generally, in about 
tlie proportion of their tops. 

Lesson 16. — The larger the seed jriecc, the earlier and more 
thrifty wl/l be the e/rowth of the tops. 
How is the desired luxuriance of tlie foliage, and i)artieular]y 
its early development to be obtained ? By accepting Nature's 
method of seeding. If we want to raise a fine calf, we let him 
suck all the fresh milk lie wants. No substitute will fill tlie 
place of that diet; and without it, great care is required in 
bringing him up. Nor is tliere any food that agrees with a new 
born babe as well as the food which Nature intended for it — a 




-4. 



Fh/vres 2 ami .3. 

healthy mother's milk. The analogy between these instances 
and the case of the potato plant is unmistakable. The mother- 
tuber contains the natural food for the plant in sufficient quan- 
tity to support the young growth, to supply it with a large 
number of roots and thus to make it strong and able to look for 
its food supply elsewhere. If the iiifant-food in the tuber is 
materially shortened or divided among a great number of 
mouths, by close cutting, the plantlet is thrown on its own 
resources before having gained sufficient strength, and forced 
to partake of food little suited for its weak digestion. Retarded 
growth of foliage, if not a weakly condition throughout the 
season, Avith decreased yield of tubers as a natural consequence, 



IS the almost surc^ penalty of this coinmon error. The single 
eye systeni is tlie roothog-or-die plan. See figures 2 and 3. 

Repeated applications of liquid manure in the early stages 
of growth, or frequent rains soaking through a manure-filled 
soil, may sometimes counterbalance the ill effects of light 
-seeding, but heavy seeding is tlie only method applicable to 
general field culture. 

Thus far we have dealt with tlieory only. How is this sup- 
j)orteiI by the results of tests and stubborn facts? 

ill IJulletin 12 of the Missouri Agricultural College (1884), 
Proiessor J. W. Sanborn, in summarizing the experiments 
wliich he has conducted personally during nine years, with the 
Karly Rose, says: 

•' The following table will give the average returns for seven 
years from measured ground and weiiriied ixitatoes, the product 
of two farms, and in agreement with the iiniceordeil lesnjls on 
a tliird farm : 

I'RODLCT PKK AClti:. 
From seed of whole potatoes, large, . . . L'i'7 l.Misbels. 

From seed of whole ])otatoes, sniM 11, . 177 

Fr')m seed of stem end <if i)oi;itn, . . 14S 

From seed of seed end of potato. .... lii.s 
From one eye to hill, . ' . 
From two eyes to hill, .... 
From three eyes to hill. 

Of the season of 1881, he reports a eoiii|i 
oae. two and three-eye-to-a-piece systen 
yield of the one-eye seed was but five bushels to the acre, 
again.st 17tJ l)ushels from whole large potatoes. 

•'Not much over one-half of the seed broke the ground in 
germination, and a part of these were so small and weak, com- 
pared with fuller seeding, that a few slightly covered died. 
The balance, under a very wet season here, did not thrive. 
This result is given to show how great a variation may occur 
under unfavorable cftnditions, between ample seeding and defi- 
<dent seeding. •^■- * ^' * Since beginning these trials, I 

have seen two foreign tests, covering about seven years each, 
wherein the effect of cutting on the future vigor of the plant 



SI 




'• 


. ] 04 




" 


. i(;() 




'• 


le failure ; 


»s t 


o the 


of jdantin 


g. 


The 




Fi(f. U. 



was studied, with results agaiust fine cutting. One eye and 
8iiiiiil potatoes gave less favorable results at the Ohio Experi- 
mental Station, last year, tlian whole large potatoes." 

Let us now look :it tlie tests condueted by the generally very 
careful Rural Neir Yorker, and reported in the issue of March 
15rh, 1S84. 

" Test 46, A. The seed potatoes were selected all of the same 
size, and ])eeled, all eyes being cut off' except tiie strongest near 
the middle, that is, whole potatoes were peeled so 
that but one eye was left with a ring of skin about 
it. -•■ * * * The variety was the Peerless] 

the amount of chemical fertilizers used, 1000 pounds 
to the acre. •=• •■•' ••■ ••■■ ^' Yield, 80G.GG bushels 
to the aer*'. 

** Test 47, A. Tlie pieces were cut as shown by 
figure 4, and of that size. Planted tliree inches deep. 
So many of the i)ieces either failed to sprout or died after 
sprouting, that no estimatecould be made of the yield per acre. 

" Test 48, A. In this test cylindrical pieces were 
<3ut through the potato, as shown in figure 5, with a 
strong eye on one end. -^^ ^^ ^^^ ■■■' Yield, 211./ a 

bushels to the acre." 

" ' Enough is as good as a feast,' concludes the Hk- 
ral. lUit what would be enough in a wet spring, 
miglit prove too little in a dry one ; what might serve 
in a rich soil, might ])r()ve insufficient in a ])(i()r 
soil. The quantity of flesh, which should go witli 
each piece is, theoretically, that which, without 
unnecessary waste will l)est su|>port the eyes, nntil 
by the growth of roots, support from the flesh is no 
longer required." 

From many other tests, which brouglit fortli similar results, 
we will mention only our own of last season, 1884. 

The soil selected for the test is a rich loam, having been used 
as an onion field for a number of years, and repeatedly and 
heavily manured with hog and hen manure, salt, ashes, kainit, 
high-grade super-phosphate, &c. Variety selected — Early (Jem. 



^ 



tig. 



18 



Planted in drills tliree feet apart, eighteen inches apart in the 
drill. On account of the high fertility of the soil, we did not 
expect to see a great difference in favor of heavy seeding. A 
quantity of large, smooth potatoes, weighing about a half'pouud 
each, were selected for seed. 

The plants of the heaviest seeding were the first to come up, 
and the amount of foliage, about four weeks after planting, 
indicated the exact proportion of the yield afterwards. 

With yield from whole potatoes taken as 100, the result was 
as follows, viz. :— 





Whole Potato. 

Whole potatoes, 

Single eye on whole potato. 

Single eye, cut from N. W. to S. E. 

Seed end half, . 

Stem end half, . 

Whole large potato, without seed end, 
while Prof. Sanborn's tests show the following per centage : — 

Whole large potatoes, .... 100.00 per cent. 

Whole small potatoes, . . . 79.02 

Single eye, .... . 'MAi', " 

From our own tests we must infer that even a high state of 
fertility of the soil, or a sufficiency of moisture during the whole 



. 100.00 


per cent 


. 66.10 




. 42.40 




. 61.02 




. 61.00 




nd, . 106.78 





season, (which were the conditions of our soil), does not always 
niaterially lessen the benefits derived from heavy seeding. 

A very common circumstance bears testimony in favor of 
liberality in seeding. Every farmer has occasionally come 
across a self-seeded plant, grown from a whole potato which had 
happened to escape the vigilant eye of the digger, and if he is 
in the least observing, the unusually large yield of such a hill, 
often growing under unfavorable conditions — in the shade of a 
corn hill, or riglit in the midst of a potato patch, perhaps 
between the rows — can hardly have failed to attract his notice. 

Prof. Sanborn's experience fully coincides with our own and 
serves to fortify our position. He says, (Bulletin 12.) : — "The 
growth of the tops in the early season displayed more differ- 
ence in favor of large seed than the harvest indication, showing 
that a vigorous leaf at the early period of potato growth is of 
much imi)ortance. Tliis difference has been noted every year 
of the trials." * * -=• "^ -•• 

"The leaf is broader, the stem stronger, and the whole top 
always, in my experience much in advance of those tops grown 
from severely cut or from small potatoes." 

Incidentally we have mentioned some advantages of a mere 
mechanical nature, resulting from heavy seeding. The tops 
from large seed pieces, appearing above ground //-om one to two 
weeks earlier than those from single eyes, soon meet, shade the 
ground, retain the moisture (and perhaps ammonia), and choke 
out weeds' growth, thus saving a considerable amount of labor 
in cultivation and in fighting the bugs. 

Lesson 17. — Heavy seeding is ahvays the safest with dwarf 
(early) varieties. 
There is a great difference in the innate vigor of the varieties. 
Low tops, as a rule, yield less than taller varieties. This lack of 
constitutional vigor must be counterbalanced, and heavy seed- 
ing will do it. We can hardly conceive of any combination of 
circumstances, ivhich might prevent a corresponding increase of 
yield from heavier seeding, with early varieties. 



20 

Lksson l.s. — Tkc lesi> viguroiis the variety, the more seed is de- 
sirable. 

Tlio peeling off of the seed end of varieties with many eyes, 
seems to increase the yield of large tubers considerably more 
than it decreases that of small tubers. 

Witli early varieties, our choice of seed, therefore, is as 
follows in the order named : 

1. Large potato, peeled at seed end. 

2. Whole large potato (4 ounces or more). 

3. Small potato (less than 4 ounces). 

4. Seed end half of large, or medium potato. . 

5. Stem end half of large or medium potato. 

The tops even of dwarf varieties should cover the ground, 
and stimulation, high feeding witli potato pulp is necessary for 
the purpose. Late, that is, strong-growing sorts generally do 
that with lighter seeding, even on common farm soils ; yet with 
so vigorous a grower as tiie White Elephant, tlie halves of large 
tubers planted on soil of hardly medium fertility, check-row 
fasliion, have largely outyiehled ligliter seeding. Poor lajid 
will give tlie best results from whole potatoes; lighter seeding 
is recommendable, often necesesary for late sorts on soils 
which are rich in vegetable matter (humus). 

" The more favorable the season, and the better tlie condi- 
tions," says Prof. Sanborn, " the greater the relative yield from 
light seeding. Our farmers must bear in mind that the good re- 
sults reported from light seeding of potatoes, are often guesses, 
generally from market gardeners, or obtained under favorable 
<;onditions, while the failures are not reported." 

We have said before, that a large yield is not to be expected 
without a thrifty top growth ; but we do by no means assert, 
that the former is a necessary sequence of the latter. An ex- 
cessive amount of foliage, together with a mere pittance of 
tubers has come under our observation more than once. We 
know, liowever, liow to avoid the undesirable coincidence. 

Starvation is ]>ossible in various ways. One person may 
have an abundance of the very choicest food within his reach, 



yet (lie from lack of nourishment, because he is in tlie last 
stages of dyspepsia, another may be blessed with a powerful 
digestion, but have no food to digest. 

At the sacrifice of a considerable amount of potato pulj) ia 
seeding, we have provided the plant with wonderful powers of 
assimilating food. That is all. His food, the raw material in 
the manufacture of tubers, must come from the soil, and if tiie 
latter be deficient in phosphoric acid and potash, or in a single 
one of the two, the plant dies without producing full-sized 
tubers. Fortunately for the grower, the majority of soils con- 
tain those two essential ingredients in sufficient quantity for a 
l)otato crop, and if the plants are strong enough, they are 
able to look up this food and make it available. If it is la'-k- 
ing, it must be supplied, or potatoes cannot be grown. 

We will not entirely ignore the objections thnt are urged 
against the use of large seed pieces. It is clainu-ij by some 
writers, that a large seed piece throws up a large number of 
sprouts, which, having to struggle for mere existence, grow up 
slim and weak. Such an idea is only to be derided. The facts 
refute it. The great majority of the eyes on a potato planted 
whole never come to life. Those buds which are the strongest,. 
and most forward, seem to eat uj) the nourishment in the 
mother tuber before the weaker (dormant) ones have time t<> 
start, A whole potato generally produces from 3/o S Inrge 
heavy stems, which should all be left, as the thinning, accord- 
ing to one of our tests, and in agreement with the general 
principles, results in a decreased yield. The removal of parr 
of the stalks, where they are very numerous, is admissible in 
the earliest stages of growth, and only then. Increased size of 
tubers is the $rain, slightly decreased yield the loss. 

A single-eye piece often develops two or three buds, cvt-ry 
one of which is stunted. Figures 2 and 3 show rhe compara- 
tive growth of stems and roots. 

That the proportion of large and small (merchantable and 
unmerchantable) tubers in the yield speaks in favor of Ji^'ht 
seeding, we freely and cheerfully admit. But if we can double 
our yieiil of salable tubers through the agency of heav'ic i-st'<-(i- 



22 

ing, we will gladly accept the increase of small potatoes to 
three or four-fold their former yield as a free gift. VV^e have 
use for them in the hog pen and poultry yard. In practice we 
have no reason to grumble. In spite of our heavy seeding, the 
percentage of small potatoes harvested by us. can always be 
written with one single figure. 

The most serious objection, however, is that of expensive- 
ness. Can we artbrd to use so much seed? 

That depends largely on the cost. A price of two dollars or 
more per bushel excludes, the practicability of heavy 6'eeding. 

Now let us consider the case of early jjotatoes for which we 
recommend the very heaviest seeding. We plant in rows 3 
feet apart. Dropping a 4 ounce potato every 18 inches in the 
drill, thus making 9680 hills per acre, we need for them 40 
bushels ot seed, or at 15 inches apart, 48i bushels. Planting 
single eyes would require only from 6i to 8 bushels of seed, 
and therefore be a saving of from 33? to 40 bushels per acre. 

Supposing the heavy seeding (at 18 inches), to yield 200 
bushels per acre, the yield from the one eye planting would be 
72.32 bushels, taking Prof. Sanborn's tests as the basis of cal- 
culation. Thus, we save. 33^ bushels in seeding and lose 127.68 
in harvesting. 

Supposing that the planting of whole potatoes brings 400 
bushels t(» the acre, we would harvest from single eyes but 
144.64 bushels. Hence a saving of about 40 bushels of seed 
would result in a yield decreased by 255.36 bushels. In other 
w(»rds, for the 40 bushels of potatoes applied as manure, we 
receive in return 255.36 bushels. 

If our figures are correct, or nearly so, heavy seeding will 
pay us a number of hundred per cent, on the investment, even 
if potatoes are cheaper in the fall than in the spring previous. 

For early varieties, the minimum average of seed should be 
a 3-ounce potato or piece of potato per hill, using about 36 
busluds of seed. For late sorts, the amount of seed sliouid be 
reguhited by the degree of fertility of the soil. One quarter of 
a medium tuber (a i)ieceof lu^t less than IV ounce), may he con- 
sidered as a minimum on common farm soils. 



23 

The judicious planter always jjlants largely when many 
growers, in consequence of a glut in the market, quit the busi- 
ness in disgust. When potatoes are worth but 15 or 20 cents a 
bushel he can well afford to use a sufficiency of seed, thus im- 
proving his chances for a large crop, which is likely to sell for 
from 50 to 75 cents or even $1.00 per bushel. On the other 
hand, when the potato business is booming and the average 
})lanter doubling his usual area, the shrewd grower may use 
the one-dollar-a-bushel seed more sparingly. The crops will 
jtrobably find but slow sale at bottom prices. 

With high priced, new varieties, it is generally advisable to 
resort to the single eye method. In that case, the manner of 
cutting recommended b)'' Dr. Sturtevant, shr)wn in figure 1, is 
the only correct way, as it insures an even distribution of potato 
pulp among the pieces. The grower, however, should not for- 
get that single-eye planting, even in the case just mentioned, 
isjustifiable only andsolelyin combination with the drill system. 

If more than one eye is to be used per hill, have them all in 
one piece, which is much preferable to two pieces witli one or 
two eyes each ; it makes tlie i)lant stronger and saves labor 
in planting. 

Lesson 19. Prepare the seed just before planting time. 

It is no advantage, as is claimed l)y some, to have tlie seed 
cut days, or even weeks, before planting, and to treat it with 
plaster, or otherwise. With us, it has repeatedly proved a real 
damage. Prepare the seed (cut it if required), when you get 
ready to use it. 

CHAPTER Vi. 



PLANTIX(L 
Time of Planting. Distance Apart. Coverin«r. 



Again we find it necessary to make a distinction between 
early and late varieties. 

Lesson 20. — Jior early market or early home supply, plant as 
soon as the ground can be got in the proper condition. 

If a very early crop is desired, we must run the risk of hav- 
ing it damaged by late frosts. It will generally escape and 



24 

come out all right. A light frost may utterly (lestroy plants 
grown from single eye (or two or three eyes), the resources of 
which are exhausted in the very first growth; yet it has little 
or no power to seriously harm i)lantations resulting from whole 
tubers, which have a considerable amount of reserve force left, 
and as a dernier resort can fall back on tlie develo])ment of an 
altogether new set of sjirouts. 

Should earliness, however, be of less consideration than cer- 
tainty of crop and large yield, the i)lanting had better be 
postponed until that period when we can exi)ect to have the 
crop safe from late frosts. This is IVom one to two wt-eks in 
advance of corn planting time; and also tlie proper time for 
l>lanting late varieties. 

Lesson 21. — Plant potatoeti brforr i/on phtnt corn. 

Many farmers ])ractici- i)hinting corn liist and i)otatoes after- 
wards. Tills order should be reversed. In an average season, 
earlier plantings do better than late ones; and as long as we 
are unable to foretell the weather for the whole season with 
something of the same certainty that our National Weather 
Makers predict it for twenty-four hours, we must rely on ])roi)a- 
bilities. 

Many are the jokes let loose in regard to tlie question of 
" planting in the moon." We will not waste our breath or 
space by re])eating any of them or trying new ones. Tiic advo- 
cates of " moon planting" would not be convinced of their error 
by anything we could say. If you do as we tell you in all 
other things, you may Inive your own way about planting in 
whatever phase of the moon you prefer. 

Lksson 22. — Dioarf niriffifs need closer p/(nitin«/, as well (ts 

heorlcr seedinr/, than tall sorts. 

The constitutional vigor of the variety planted should settle 

the question as to distance between the plants. Early Ohio, 

with its low tops, Alpha and others, may be planted with 



advantage, as close as 12 inches apart in the rows; Early Kose 
and the majority of other early kinds, 15 inches, later sorts, 
18 to 20 inches, and sometimes more. ■•■ 

The field is ready for planting, and tlie seed prepared. No»v 
put it in sacks, barrels, crates or boxes, and scatter these over 
the field, enabling the droppers to refill their receptacles with 
the least practicable trouble and delay; The seed is then 
dropped, one piece in a place, and at the proper distance. 
Lesson 23. — Careful hands should drop the seed, to have if at 
the proper distance ; a horse can do the covering. 

If no drill manuring is to be done, you will atonce proceed to 
cover the seed, which cnn be done nicely and quickly with a 
common one horse cult vator. Remove every tooth, with the 
exception of the two outer ones, which should be set to throw 
the soil toward one another (wide or hilling blades). Let the 
horse walk riglit in the bottom of the furrows. The covering 
can also be done very quickly with a heavy harrow (drag , 
going with the furrows, repeatedly if necessary, or with tools 
made especially for the purpose, at the option of the grower. 
At any rate, this work is done a great deal easier by liorse 
power than with hands ami hoes. 

If you intend to manure in the drills, let the field be lightly 
harrowed in the direction of the furrows, wliich are thereby 
partly filled. Then strew the special potato fertilizer u])on the 
safely covered seed, and harrow again thoroughly. If green 
manure is to be used, put the desired (not excessive) quantity 
of coarse stuff, even corn-stalks, sorghum bagasse, or whatever 
it may be, in tiie half covered furrows and use tiie cultiA'ator as 
above described. No rolling is necessary after planting. 



* It should not be inferred that the yield increases or decreases in the 
Bame ratio as tlie nnmher of hills on the same area; in other words, that 
each hill would yield tlip same, whether planted closer or further apai't. 
In one of our tests with (^eins planted ISand oOin<'hes apart, respectively. 
(nnmber of hills in the proportion of 100 to 60 on the same gronnd), the 
yield of the closer planting was at the rate of 475.93 bushels per acre, of 
the wider planting: 8«2.9!» bushels, or 76.27 per centum. While a hill, hav- 
ing 30 inches space in the row, yielded 27.10 per cent, more than a hill 
having but 18 inches, the yield was materially more with closer plant- 
ing. Yet, it were folly to expect, under tlie same conditions, a crop of 
571.12 bushels from 15 inch, or 609.74 from 12 inch plantings. 



CHAPTER VII. 



CULTIVATING. 



Harrow and C'liltivator. Shovel Plow. Hoe. 
liuvei Ciiitivatioii vs. Hilling. 

The oojectof the cultivation given to the potato field is three- 
fold : — 1. To keep down every sign of weed growth ; 2. To keep 
the soil well pulverized, fine and mellow; 3. To prune the 
roots; and all this restricted to the earlier period of growth. 
Lesson 24. — A light harrow is the best cultivator. 

For the first two or three weeks after planting and uj) to the 
time when the vines are three or four inches high, a common 
light harrow or drag is tlie only tool required. It answers all 
three purposes perfectly; and, indeed, with an insignificant 
amount of labor. One harrowing actually does more good and 
shows more lasting effects than three cultivatings. It is better 
than hand hoeing. Tlie cultivator, like Saul, slew thousands 
(of weeds). The harrow is the David, who slays his ten thous- 
ands. The harrow makes the ground mellow in and around 
every hill, and leaves not a weed. 

The slight root-pruning caused by the drag teeth, seems to be 
a decided benefit in this early stage of growth, and to result in 
an increased development of the rootlets, which act as feeders 
iind supporters. The plants respond to this treatment with 
astonishing quickness. They seem to grow visibly. 

Some farmers understand this principle very well and, not 

contented with a light ])runing, 

tear the roots to pieces quite 

Figure 6. thoroughly with a home-made 

iron hook, fastened to an old hoe handle. (See Figure O). 

The drag performs its work to our perfect satisfaction, and 
we do not recommend the use of supplementary tools, in par- 
ticular, if H involves a irreat deal of liand labor. Enough is a 
feast. 

Harrow the Held iIk. roughly, first in the direction of the rows, 
tlien erossways, every five or six days, and stop only when the 
plants get so large that injury to them must be feared. If a 
suflaciency of seed is used, this will be soon enough. 



27 

Lesson 25. — When the size of tops forbid thcfurtlier aae of the 
harrow, cultivate as often a.^ necessari/, trit/i a. common, light 
cultivator. 

Then the cultivator should take the place of the harrow. 
Cultivate shallow, and repeat at .short intervals, until the tops 
cover the ground ami forbid further working among theiu. 




Level. 

The shovel plow is not needed for cultivation purposes. The 
practice of piling up great mountains around each plant, will 
soon be a thing of the past. Soils on which this hilling is 
necessary, are not desirable for potato growing. 

The Editor of the Rural New Yorker claims for himself the 
priority of the level culture idea. He has been an enthusiastic 




Hilled. 
advocate of the new metliod, and his phenomenal yields have 
given strong testiuKtnev in its favor.* 

* A test, made by us in 18S4, for the purpose of ascertaining ilie relative 
yields resulting from the old and the new metho(l, was, for certain rea- 
sons, not as reliable as we conld wish; still, we will give the figures:— 
Hilled, Early Gem, quartered lengthwise, land rich, moist, plenty of 
rain ; yield per acre, 201.46 bushels. Level, under same conditions, yield 
per acre, 294.(il iin><hels. The tubers under level cultivation, were limoh 
larger than with hilling. 



Ill ii very wet season the hilling system may, perhaps, give 
better results. In a tlry one, however, the large hills and dug- 
outs between them, allowing wliat rain does come, to run oft" 
rapidly, and presenting a much larger surface to the drying 
influence of sun and winds, deprive tlie plants of the necessary 
moisture much too quickly. 

Here is another disadvantage connected with excessive 
hilling. The roots and rootlets seek their food mainly between 
the rows. In hilling, you take it away from where it is needed 
and pile it up around the stems, where it will do no good. You 
offer a stone, when bread is asked for, and mutilation (by the 
deep cutting shovel plow), and haid pan instead of nourishing 
soil. Common sense, sound tlieory, and practical results, are 
all against the popular way of hilling. Yet, there are objec- 
tions to j)erfectly level cultivation. Tlie most potato sorts 
grow so near the surface, that some of tiie tubers will turn green 
and bec((me injured by exposure to tlie light. And then, what 
would indicate the location of tubers after they are ri})e and the 
tops dead ? 

I.ESSON 2(i. — Hill verjj lujhthj : vot irlth the .slion/ jiloir or 
common plow, but with the hilliiKj teeth of the cultivator. 

The golden mean is oiir method, and by far the safest. A 
slight hilling (see figure !>), serves to keep the tubers covered 



LIZVUL 



Figure fi. The (Golden Mean. 

u)), and to facilitate the labor of digging them in the fall. The 
hilling (outside), teeth of the cultivator M-ill do the work just 
about right. 





29 

We have no use for the hand lioe in the potato fiehl at this 
time, unless Canada tiiistles, milk weed, l;ur(h)ck and otlier 
weeds of that character shouhl be growiny in it. Tliese must 
be cut off beh)w the surface of tlie ground with the sharp bhule 
of a hoe, a task that requires hut little time. Eepeat if ne(!es- 
sarv. Soon the to])s will cover the ground, when no more 
cultivation is needed. 



('lIAP'ii:rv VII 



BU(;s AXJ} WORMS. 



Tlu' White (iiiih. The Wire \\ oriii. The Colorado Potato Bug. 



A white grub, the larva of the common May ))eetle (Alelontha 
vulgaris), which feeds on the teiuler roots of plants, oecasioruilly 
eats otf a potato stalk below the surface of the ground. We 
have never suffered serions damage from this pest, and can 
suggest only one remedy, that is, not to plant on soils known 
to be infested by these grubs in such numbers as to endanger 
tlie croj). The grub is fouinl generally in sod or new ground, 
rarely in soils that hnve been in cultivation the pi'evious season. 
The remedy is obvious. 

The wire worm, which name belongs collectively to the larvae 
of different species of beetle (julus), is a i)est much more to be 
dreaded. Its ravages are the cause of an unsightly scabby ap- 
pearance of the tubers. No soil or condition is a sure protec- 
tion against them. Potatoes grown on light soils, or on soils 
fertilized with commercial manures, chemicals, kainit, &c., 
are more apt to escape the attacks of this ])est, and to come out 
smooth and handsome in appearance than those grown on heavv 
clay soils, particularly if fertilized with stable manure. The 
latter always seems to attract the wire worms. 

Still nu)re dangerous than the preceding is the Colorado Po- 
tato liug {Doryphorn dernnlinrata),kuown and hated by every 
potato grower. The larvae of this real pest, at their first ap- 
pearance in the Eastern States, were much more destructive 
than at tlie ])resent time, as their natural enemies ftlie soldier 
bug aixl otlicr insects, wliich feed on the eggs and larvae of the 



30 

dorvphora) liave multij)lie(l nearly as fast as their prey. There 
are, however, instances even at this day, of whole crops being 
destroyed or sadly damaged by this insect. 

Our mode of planting is the simplest and most potent remedy 
for the Doryphora. 

Lesson 27. — Luxuriance of vines is impulsive to the hnffs. 

Rankness of tops drives the bugs off. The few that stay, are 
lost in tliis forest of foliage, but the large majority take to our 
neigh])or's fields, where, in slow and weak-growing plants 
they find food better suited to bug taste. 

We don't find it necessary to dose the bugs after full seed- 
ing. If the vines are not quite so thrifty, it may be necessary 
to go over the field, pan or pail in hand, and knocking the 
larvae off into the receptacle with a stick or paddle, to gather 
and kill them. 

It is always advisable to pick off" the old " hard-shells," when 
the plants are first l)reaking ground, or to poison them with 
slices of potato, soaked in a weak solution of Paris Green in 
water. More care is necessary with early than with strong- 
growing late varieties, and more after light than heavy seeding. 

A field planted in the single eye or two-eyes-to-a-piece fashion 
needs close watching. 
Lesson 28. — If the hugs come in considerable numbers, Paris 

Green is the proper remedy, cheap, effective, and harmless, 

if rightly applied. 

Everything about the potato bug is disgusting. No animal 
except a few insects can be induced to eat it. We would not 
like our children to get into a hand-to-hand fight with the pest. 
And if the business is too nauseous for our cliildren, we do not 
expect that other people's children wall enjoy it. Use Paris 
Green, if the bugs stand fight. 

We greatly prefei the dry mode of application. The poison 
is mixed with plaster or flour (wheat, rye, or buckwheat) at 
the rate of one pound of the former to from 100 to 200 pounds of 
the latter. The mixing requires thoroughness. 

Spread a thin layer of flour or plaster in the bottom of a large 
tight box, sjirinkle a part of the poison evenly over this, then 



31 

put on another layer df the former and so on until finished. 
VVitli hoe and shovel mix this mass over; too )auch mixini;- is 
no fault, a trifle too little mixing puts its eff'eetiveness in ques- 
tion. The poison should be evenly distributed all through rlu> 
material which lends to it volunnj ;ind adhesiveness. Then the 
remedy is infallible and, in its diluted condition, not very 
dangerous to handle. 

The mixture is now to be sifted over the vines, preferal)ly 
when they are covered with dew. A mere atom of Paris Gret-n 
is sui-e death to the bug, and it is only necessary to protect each 
part of the tbliage by the thinnest imaginable coat of the 
mixture. 

A home-made sifter like figure 10, consisting of a large tin 
box, with pei'forated bottom and attachment for adjusting han- 
dle, is the simplest instrument for applying the poison. 




Figure 10. Paris Green Sifter, 

There are a number of other contrivances in the market, the 
advertisments of which appear in the agricultural i)apers in 
due season. The most of these atomizers and sifters answer 
their purpose admirably. Particular attention, however, we 
wish to call to the Potato Bug Exterminator manufactured by 
J. S. Eddy & Sons, in Eagle Mills, New York. It is a very 
handy poison distributor. The cut shows the machine. 

When the poison is to be applied in liquid form, it should be 
diluted in the proportion of one teaspoonful to a large pail of 
water. Ke^p it well stirred while applying. 

Do not put your reliance in any of the many advertised pateni 
insecticides. 



32 
CHAPTER IX. 



HARVESTING 



Time of Digging. Potato Diggers, tlniid IiiipleiiieiitM. 
Plow. Sorting. Handy Cerates. 



As soon us tlie tops die, showing thiit the tubers have come to 
maturity, it is time to harvest the crop. 

Lesson L'!>. — D'kj duruxj the first dry spell after the jxitatoes 
hove become ripe. 

Never dig i)Otatoes when the soil is very wet ; they will not 
keep so well. The task of digging is much easier in cieun 
ground than in ground over-ruu with weeds, as long as the 
half dead stems indicate the location of hills. Nature does not 
like a vacancy. Wlien the dying tops make room, the Aveeds, 
repelled during a short period, hut not discouraged, renew 
their struggle for existence, and the new undesirable vegetation, 
favored by a hot sun and occasional showers, makes rapid 



1 



Figure 11. Grape Hoc 

progress. Before you are hardly aware of it, you may be forced 
to start the mower and men with forks to clear the i»otato 
ground from weeds, before digging can be thought of 
Lesson 80. — A common plow is just as good a tool for digging 

the crop, as any of the high-priced patented votato-diggers. 

AVe cannot conscientiously advise you to invest largely in 
potato-diggers. Mr. Terry claims to l)e the ]iossessor of the 
only machine of real merit. We fear that his specimen cannot 
be duplicated, otherwise a few cargoes would come handy for 
our potato men. This living machine is a certain ^Ir. Ross, 
recently arrived froiu Germany, and the almost incredible dig- 
ging capacity of 15:) to 250 bushels per day, is claimed for him. 



33 

111 light sandy soils, free tVoiii large stones and pebbles, tli.- 
•orop can be dug by liaiid as well, or better, and jiearly as last 
as in any other way. Tlic common hoe, spading fork, potato 
fork or i)otat() digging iiook may be used, according to prefer- 
ence. In hard or gravelly soil, a grai)e hoe will often do 
excellent service. 

We prefer a c<»minoii j)low to any other implement for 
<ligging. A sliovel plow (lows nearly as well. Let the horse 
walic right <tn the row and turn the i)otato roots bottom side up 
tlius exposing the tubers to view. Before gathering, let the 
tuDers get fully dry and free from tlie }noist soil adhering to 
tiiem. 

LehSON 31.— *S'o>7 the crop in //njic/d. 

Tlie merchantabh- (table) ])otatoes are now j)icked up and 
kei>t by themselves ; after \vards go over the same ground again 
and pick iij) the small ones, to be store<l and utilized for feeding 
jmrposes. 

It is also of the greatest importance to select at tliis same 
time, the seed needed for next spring's ]>lanting. The charac- 
teristic marks of the variety can now be readily distinguished. 

Store each variety by itself, in separate l)arrels, boxes, crates, 
bins or pits, and do not forget to la]>el them correctly and 
legibly. 
LksSOX 32. — The j/ofdfvcf^, <(s fust <is //ic/:c<l up, should he 

emptied into sacks, barrels or rra/cs, and thus made ready f or 

transportation. 

Boxes, barrels or sacks (old ))hos])iiate or hop sacks), filled 
Avitli potatoes, can l)e quickly loaded upon the wagon, and as 
readily taken oif. The old jn-actice of drawing potatoes in 
bulk, in a wagon-box, must yield to better methods. 

Light boxes or crates make, })erhaps, the handiest packages 
imaginable for the transportation of potatoes. A crate of this 
kind (Figure 12) is described on i)age 82t) (December 13th, 
1S84), of the Rural New Yorker, as follows:— 

" It is simply a slatted crate, the ends being cut out o1' one 
inch stuff, planed on both sides, KTV inches wide and lo inches 
long. The bottom and sides are made of stuff is inches long 



34 

and one-half inch thick, and for the sides 2A inches wide. The 
Ijottom slats can be of the same width, or wide enough so that 
with suitable space three will form the bottom ; in each there 
should be cut suitable places, as shown in cut, to serve as 
handles in carr3'ing. 

" These crates are taken to the field and filled with potatoes, 
corn or other produce, and when filled, set directly into the 
wagon ; two will stand endwise across the box, and if the box 
is, as it should be, for farm work, 15 feet long inside, being 
made of 16 foot lumber, 11 will easily rest side by side in its 
length, making 22 boxes in a tier, and as the box will be 12 




Figure 13. Potato Crate. 
inches high, two tiers, or 44 crates can be carried at a single 
load, and this will be as much as any team should draw over 
the farm. When the load is driven to the cellar or crib, the 
crates are picked up, carried to the bins, emptied and returned 
to the wagon, thus saving once picking or scooping up the pro- 
duce and much time. 

"Every farmer should have enough of these crates for two 
full loads, and thus he can be filling one lot while another is 
being emptied. * «- * * * They are also very handy for 
storing potatoes in the cellar, as they can be placed in tiers the 
full height of cellar, and are a great convenience when it is 
necessary to pick over or sort the produce. The material for 
making them should cost from 12 to 20 cents each, according to 
the price of lumber." 

AVe have to add but one suggestion. Let the farmer's name 
and weight of package also, be put on each crate with rubber 
stamp or stencil. 



35 
CHAPTER X. 



MARKETING AND STORING. 



Fall or Spring Sale. Sortiiii^ for 31arket. Cellar. 
Root Houses. Pits. 



Tlie advice to sell as soon as a fair price can be obtained, has 
lost nothing of its virtue by age or frequent repetition, and is 
especially recommendable for potatoes. 

Lesson 33. — Do not init off marketing the croj) longer tJmn 
necessary. 

The loss from shrinkage and rotting, sometimes from freezing, 
is much greater than generally supposed, and the labor caused 
by repeated handling, sorting, sprouting and storing is consid- 
erable. In short, we would rather take fifty cents for a bushel 
right from the field at digging time, than 'a probable seventy- 
five cents at the beginning or in the midst of winter, or one 
dollar in the spring. 

The proper sorting of the potato crop, is just as important as 
that of apples or other produce. A few small specimens, say one 
bushel or two in a load, spoil the appearance of the whole. 
While they add to it in weight, they do but little in bulk, and 
detract from the whole load. 

Lesson 34. — Small potatoes should be fed out, not marketed. 

Every morning at day -break, give to your fowls a warm mess 
of boiled small potatoes, mashed and mixed with meal. They 
will pay you in eggs, much more than you could obtain in 
market for the potatoes. 

Excessive supply, or other unfavorable conditions in the fall 
market, sometimes compel the grower to store the bulk of his 
produce. If you have a large cellar or root-house, which is 
frost-proof and can be kept dark, the simplest way to store 
potatoes, either for home use, for seed or for spring market, is 
to put them in dry bins, raised not less than six inches from 
the ground. It is advisable not to heap them up over 20 or 24 
inches high, Potatoes stored in crates, as described in the pre- 
ceeding chapter, or in barrels and boxes, generally keep well. 



36 

Lesson 35. — All potatoef> when j)ut into icinlcr quarters, imiS: 
be perfectly dry. 

A steady temperature, as low as possible without actu;ii 
freezing, is tlie best. 

Lesson 36. — Potatoes intended for food, should he kept in th<- 
dark. 

A sprinkling of air-slacketl lime over tlie tubers is a i)reventa- 
tive of rot. 

Another good method of keeping ])otatoes until spring, is the 
storage in pits. It may not be quite as iumdy, nor as safe, as 
the cellar storage, but the tubers generally come out of their 
winter quarters much treslier and of l)etter taste tiuin when 
cellar kept. The annexed figure gives a correct idea of the pit 
as it should be. 

The pits may be made right in the field wliere the crop is dug. 
Select a location-with perfect natural drainaye, and excavate 
a place of corresponding size, and not deeper than necessary to 




Mf/ure 13. Potato Pit. 

obtain a solid and dry loundation (8 or 9 inches). For a pile 
of 50 bushels, the excavation should be round, and about 4 feet 
in diameter; for a larger quantity, it has to be enlarged in one 
direction only, and thus made oblong. 

Now put a little straw in the bottom, and empty the potatoes 
as ftist as picked up, ujwn it, making a conical pile. Cover it 
with straw eight inches deep, and after the lapse of n few hours 



37 

cover with soil to the depth of three or tour iiiclies. A twisted! 
band of straw, reaching down to the potato heap and through 
the dirt covering on top, serves as ventilator. 

At the approach of severe cold weather, this heap is once 
more covered witli 5 or 6 inches of straw, held in place by a 
light coat of soil. 
Lhsson 37. — A dead air space {straw) between two lUjht coats 

of soil, protects potatoes from freezing much more effectuaUy 

than the generally applied heavy outside coat of manure. 

It must be our aim to keep the potatoes as near as possible to 
tlie freezing point without actual freezing, and in a warm 
winter, the ventilator should be kept in good working order. 

Further south, of course, this heavy and anxious protection 
is not necessary ; the difficulty there is in keeping the potatoes 
from rotting and sprouting. 

o 

CHAPTER XI. 



SEED POTATOES. 



Production of New Varieties. Their Dissemination, 
Local vs. Shipping Trade. High Bi'eeding. 



To the faithful experimenters who propagate from the seed 
of the seed balls, as they come across them accidentally in 
selected varieties, or from seed which is the result of ai'tificial 
fecundation of pistils of one superior sort with pollen taken 
from another, we owe the existence of many improved new 
varieties. 

There is no stand-still. Either we go onward or we must 
fall back. Should we neglect to improve on the varieties now 
existing, we would soon have none wortli cultivating. We can 
only wish that the effort of those experimenters niny be contin- 
ued untiringly. Their work is not to be derided. It is neces- 
sary to create about 2,000 new varieties, in order to find one as 
good as those already in existence, and perhaps 10,000, or more, 
to find a better one. 

It seems to us, however, tliat by far too many of the new 
seedlings are retained by the growers. They should offer to 



38 

the public only such varieties, which, by the severest tests, 
prove that they are really superior to existing kinds. It is but 
natural, though, that the originator of a promising variety 
should wish to make it pay him for his labor and trouble in 
calling into life so many which are of no value. 

The disseminators of new varieties generally reap the reward 
of the originator's work, and the business of growing and selling 
seed potatoes is sometimes, as in years of boom, like 1881 to 
1883, exceedingly profitable for those who have the judgmen* 
to select the "coming" varieties, or who know them by 
intuition. 

W. E. W., a prominent potato grower near , bought 

of us in the spring of 1881, sixty-four pounds of the now justly 
celebi-ated White Elephant potato, then introduced by Thor- 
burn & Co, From tliis quantity of seed, which cost him some- 
thing over $8.00, he raised 110 bushels. A quantity of these 
were retailed at $5.00 per bushel in spring 1882 ; we bought 50 
or 60 bushels at $7.00 per barrel of 150 pounds, and the rest he 
l^lanted, growing from them in 1882, nearly 1500 bushels, which 
>vere sold for $1.00 per bushel in spring 1883. 

The original investment has j^aid him exceedingly well, but 
the same thing cannot be-done every year, nor with every new 
variety. Sorts which gain universal jJopularity and grow into 
demand at fancy figures, are few and far between. 

Still, in many thousands of villages and neighborhoods in 
localities where potatoes are grown extensively, there are fine 
opportunities for enterprising and competent men to increase 
their farm profits by growing potatoes for seed. Many farmers 
and village people neglect to save any of their early garden 
potatoes for seed, and when spring comes are looking for a few 
" real early ones," and are willing to play a good price. We 
generally sold Early Ohio in the local market at $2.00 a bushel. 

Local demand is the only safe foundation for a start in the 
business of growing seed potatoes, and it would be folly to 
speculate altogether on the mailing and shipping trade, obtained 
by advertising. 



39 

That branch seems to be well tilled, if not crowded, by very 
enterprising firms and individuals. Grow up with the local 
market, and gradually try to reach out beyond it. 
Lesson 38. — Potatoes intended for seed should he grown from 
carefully selected tubers, and carefidly sorted at harvest. 

High breeding is just as necessary in the case of potatoes as 
in that of cattle or sheep. To lessen the risk of mixing the 
seed, different varieties should be planted a little ways apart, 
divided for instance by a few rows of corn or beans, and care- 
fully labeled. Store in pits or cellar. Never depend on your 
memory as to the varieties. If you have but six different ones, 
label each package or bin correctly. 

Lesson 39. — Seed potatoes rather improve, are not damaged, by 
exposure to the light. 

Requiring more labor and care in planting, in selection of 
seed stock, in growing apart, in storing sejDarately until spring, 
in labeling, and otherwise involving risks, the crop is naturally 
more expensive than potatoes grown for food. The grower 
cannot afford to sell them at common market rates, and the 
buyer must expect to pay accordingly. 

'■ o 

CHAPTER Xli. 



COST AND PROFITS. 



The expense of growing one acre of potatoes is about as 
follows : — 

Rent (1 acre in new clover, worth $100), 
Manure, 15 loads or its equivalent, 

Plowing and harrowing, 

Marking, plowing, furrows, covering. 
Dropping seed by hand, ..... 
Seed, 25 bushels at 60 cents, .... 

Cultivating, etc., 

Harvesting and marketing, .... 

Total, $51.00 
Receipts— 250 bushels at 25 cents per bushel, 62.50 

Net i)rofit per acre, $11.50 



40 

The above yield of 'loi) bushels, is the very lowest we would 
expect in an unfavorable season, and the probable price then 
nearer the average, say at least 50 cents. The receipts in that 
case will be doubled, or ^125, leaving a net profit of .$74 per 
acre. 

In a favorable season the croj) would be 300 or 400 bushels, 
and the net profits correspondingly larger. Often, also, pota- 
toes are sold for 60, 75 and even 100 cents and above per bushel. 

The average price during the five years from 1876 to 1880, 
inclusive, is estimated by the Agricultural Department at 53.3^ 
cents per bushel. The average for the future can hardly be 
expected to be much less. Half of this price pays liberally for 
labor, manure, rent, seeil, and leaves a p/ofit besides. What 

more can you ask ? 

( » 

CHAPTER XIll. 



S UC'( 'ES8] r 7i' (JIWPS. 



Paying successive crops can often be grown without troul)]tv 
MS it is not one which particularly impoverishes the soil. The 
}>otash and phosphoric acid, however, wliich the crop removes, 
should be replaced either, by fine manure applied in the fall, 
or by the required chemical fertilizers in the spring. We have 
raised potatoes year after year on the same soil, or alter- 
nated with corn, without seeding to clover or applying 
manure, excej>t very little ashes, kainit, and superphosphate ; 
and sometimes (in a favorable season) the last crop was the 
best. 

Those repeated crops of from two to 400 busiiels to the acre 
seem to show that there is an enormous quantity of the raw 
material for the manufacture of potatoes in common soil, if 
you but know how to make it available. 



CHAPTER XIV 



TREATMENT OF THE FTELI) AFTER DIGGING. 



It is not profitable t«> allow the field to remain through the 
winter in the rough condition caused l)y the digging operation. 



41 

Some sort of covering through fall ;ui<l winter is beneficial to 
the land. Weeds, with their seed maturing propensities, are 
not a profitable or satisfactory covering. 

Lesson 40. — Soon after ditjaiiu/ hurrow the field thorowjlilif 
and sow to nje. 
The field can be got in veiy fine condition for rye (or wheat, 
either, if early enough) with little labor; plowing is not 
necessary; thorough harrowing is sufficient, unless the land is 
very rough and hard, when the cultivator may precede the 
harrow. The rye will come handy for early spring pasture, or 
for use as green feed, or for the grain (with seeding to clover 
in spring, at the grower's pleasure). If potatoes are to be 
followed with potatoes, the rye may be plowed under for 
manure. 

o 

CHAPTER XV. 



PRICE A XI) FOOD VALUE. 



In some springs — generally after a good potato season follow- 
ing a boom — the supply is largely in excess of the demand, 
and prices rule low. Often a market can hardly be found at 
at all, and farmers are asking: "Shall we sell our i)ota- 
toes at twenty-five cents a bushel or teed them?" 

Potatoes contain only about one-quarter as much solid 
nutriment as corn, weight for weight. With corn at sixty 
cents a bushel, or wheat at seventy five cents, the actual feed- 
ing value of one bushel of potatoes is less than twenty cents, 
l>erhaps hardly fifteen cents. In small quantities, merely as a 
stimulant for the digestive functions of horses and cows, or 
boiled as a variety for laying and fattening hens, they may be 
worth much more. With the above price for grain we would 
sell potatoes at twenty cents per bushel and buy corn, much 
rather than feed them. For human food wheat is about as 
cheap at seventy-five cents as potatoes at fifteen cents per 
bushel. 



42 
CHAPTER XVI. 



RECAPITULA TION. 



In the preceding pages we have given you our system of 
growing potatoes on the common soils which are found on 
almost every farm. After much thought and study, and years 
of experimenting, we had selected it as thesa/esi for us as for . 
the general farmer. We have often failed with other systems, 
but had always good success with this. We hope you will at 
least give it a trial. We are willing to guarantee success, 
jirovided you comply with the following indispensible 
conditions : 

1. That the naturally drained soil, in which neither sand 
nor clay should have too great a preponderance one over 
the other, be thoroughly pulverized way down below the seed. 

2. That the/e be present in the soil, and available for 
immediate use, a fair quantity of all the essential elements of 
plant food, or if not, that the deficient element or elements be 
supplied, either in the shape of fine stable manure or of 
commercial fertilizers. 

3. That a sufficiency of well sdected seed be planted (not less 
than three inches deep) in drills, at a distance regulated accord- 
ing to the condition of soil, and the vigor of variety planted. 

4. That the ground be well cultivated, and but slightly 
hilled, and 

5. That the bugs be repelled by luxuriance of foliage. 

o— 

CHAPTER XYII 



CONCLUSIVE RE3IARKS. 



The Terry One Eye System. The "Rural" Trenching 
3IetIiod. 



On several occasions in our little work we have mentioned 
prominent features of the Terry (Dr. Sturtevant's) one eye 
and the: Rural trenching systems. Our method differs in very 
material points from either. 

Terry emphasizes the cutting to one eye, in the manner he 
calls "from North-east to South-west." The more i^lant food 



43 

there is in his soil the less space he allows to each plant, fo 
the purpose of making use of all the available substance in iiis 
land. We believe that the principle is altogether wrong The 
richer the soil the fewer plants should grow on it. One strong, 
well tillered wlieat plant bears more grain than a dozen spind- 
ling, single stalks on a space three or four inches square. 
Terry creates dwarfs and weaklings, and assigns to them the 
work of collecting and assimulating plant food. We have 
giants in structure and digestion. A strong plant can often 
use the plant food (which is present in almost every soil) in a 
shape in which it is utterly unavailable for a weak one, just as 
some people will thrive on pork and beans, whilst others 
would not dare to take anything heavier than beef tea and 
toast. (A weak plant does not utilize all the available plant 
food within its reach, and here \^i\\e proof of the pudding : 
In one of our tests a number of Dakota Red single eyes, cut 
from North-east to South-west, were planted in medium rich 
loam. A part or these single eyes were inserted each into a 
whole Gem potato, which had all the eyes cut off and a hole 
<lug out for the reception of a Dakota Red-eye. In spite of 
this procedure with the Gems, some of their own eyes started 
into life. A number of the Dakota Red single eyes planted 
without Gems did not germinate, or perished after germinating. 
The hills planted with Gems averaged more and larger Dakota 
Reds than the others, and yielded a considerable quantity of 
Gems besides. The fallacy of Mr. Terry's theory is here ex- 
l^osed witli almost mathematical accuracy.) On soil in as fine 
a state of cultivation as Mr. Terry claims his land to be, we 
would not be satisfied witli a potato crop of less than four or 
five liundred bushels to tlie acre. His yields are by no means 
remarkable or excessively large. 

The Rural system is similar to the Terry in regard to close 
planting and dwarting the plants, though Mr. Carman uses two 
eye pieces, planted 12 inches apart. The greatest importance 
\s attached, first, to the thorough pulverization of the soil in 
the bottom of wide trenches (into which the seed is to be i)lanted) ; 



44 

second, to drill inamiving with commercial fertilizers (The 
Rural disclaims all merit for stable manure on the llaml 
icrounds) ; third, to perfectly level cultivation. 

Having one common end in view, that is, the increase of 
yield on common (not rich) farm soils, we are strongly in syn 
pathy with the Rural. But we cannot travel the same road 

Our method is entirely original in many of its main feature.-, 
in the first place, we make a general and decided distinction, 
clear through, between early (dwarf), and late (tall), varieties 
treating them differently in regard to soil, manuring, time and 
manner of i)lanting, amount of seed, distance in the rows, etc. 

We do not desj)ise commercial fertilizers and chemicals, like 
Terry, nor reject stable dung, like the Rural. Each is good in 
its place. But potato pulp is a manure that toe must have, if it 
be the most expensive. We have not found anything that will 
take its place. 

Terry weans his potato babies when they are a day or so old, 
and feeds tiiem flour soup and rice with the spoon ; the Rural 
nurses them a few days longer, then uses patented " food for 
infants." We bring ours up solely on their mother's milk, 
U!<til they are vigorous and strong enough to digest the heartiest 
kind of food. 

Here you have the three systems. "You pays your money 
and you takes your choice," 



APPENDIX 



THE NEWER VARIETIES. THEIR MERITS 
AND FAULTS. 



While descriptive lists of the newer i)otato sorts can be found 
in all the annual seed catalogues which are scattered over tlie 
country by millions, the reader will desire to see such a list 
made out from the-stand point of the planter, not in the interest 
of the dealer in seed i)otatoes. This chapter is' an attempt to 
su})ply it. We will mention merely the most ])opular and the 
most ))r()mising varieties. 

There are a number of varieties so nearly alike in every re- 
spect, that tlieir dissemination under different and often high- 
sonnding names, can hardly be justified. The number of Rose 
seedlings in particular is legion. Others are i)raised up beyond 
actual merit by their originators or introducers, and the dissem. 
inators just copy the extravagant statements. 

These gentlemen desire to create a brisk demand at a dollar 
or so a pound, and tiicy know liow to do it, though it require 
seventy-five cents worth of jtuffing and 1)hiwiiig and of colored 
plates, to sell the one pound. The good qualities of a new 
seedling are generally greatly magnified, while the faults are 
entirely ignored. 

The reader, wlio intends to buy new kinds, is earnestly 
advised to examine (mr list and description carefully before 
buying. He may tliereby save money. 



EXTRA EARLY SORTS. 



EARLY OHIO. 

Our favorite. Seedlingof Early Rose. With us, the earliest of 
ull tliat are worthy of cultivation. Smooth, round-oblong 
4.") 



46 

rose colored, (iuality first rate, cooking dry and mealy even 
before fully matured. Needs particularly heavy seeding on 
account of particularly low growing tops ; otherwise little sus- 
ceptible to inditFerent treatment. Prefers heavy, rich and 
rather moist soils. Handsome. Indispensible in the family 
garden and as early market variety. The Ohio is the kind for 
rich bottom lands, the true " Queen of the Valley," but not 
worth much for thin, dry uplands. 

lee's favorite. 
Seedling of the Early Rose; resembling it in form and gen- 
eral appearance. Light flesh-colored ; ])ink about the eyes. 
Quality unexcelled. A very promising variety. 

EARLY MAINE. 

Another seedling of the same parent, and a very promising 
sort. 

o 

EARLY SORTS. 



EARLY SUNRISE, EARLY GEM, CHICAGO MARKET, EARLY 
VERMONT, ROSY MORN, AND OTHERS. 

All these are seedlings of the Early Rose and resemble each 
other and their parent, varying but little in shade of color, 
(lighter or darker red), or in time of ripening. We Avill call 
them collectively, the 

NEW ROSE, 

and prefer either of them to the old Early Rose, for the same 
reason that the reader, if he had the choice between two horses 
alike in every respect except age, would take the five-year old 
colt in preference to the fifteen-year old mare. But if you 
have one of these varieties, you have all- 

BEAUTY OF HEBRON. 

A leading market variety, seedling of Peachblow and 
Garnet Chili, spotted white and pink; oblong; quality first- 
rate; yielding well in rich, not too heavy soils. 



EARLY MAYFLOWER 

May be called a rejuvenated Stiowflake, but is earlier and a 
better yielder. Like the Snowfiake it requires light seeding, 
otherwise a large number of small tubers will be the result. 

EARLY TELEPHONE 

Resembles the preceding, but makes a more vigorous growth. 

o 

INTERMEDIATE SORTS. 

RURAL BLUSH. 

A fine variety indeed. Very ])roductive. Tubers flattish- 
round, very uniform in size and shape, and of excellent 
quality The eyes are deeper than we should like to see them. 

baker's IMPERIAL AND CORLESS MATCHLESS 

Are two more seedlings of the Early Rose; large, long, red, 
prolific, and altogether promising sorts. 

MAGNUM BONUM (American). 
Large, good yielder, deep-eyed. We have better varieties 
than this. 

ONTARIO. 

White, productive, of fair quality and shape. A very good 
late keeping sort. 

BIG BENEFIT (Pickering's). 

Large, long, smooth, red. Valuable for the propagator on 
account of its free blooming and seeding (seed-ball producing) 
faculties. 



LATE SORTS. 



DUNMORE SEEDLING, MAMMOTH PEARL AND O. K. 
MAMMOTH PROLIFIC 

Belong to the Peerless type of potatoes. The farmers in 
Northumberland County, Pa., the home of the introducer of 
Mammoth Pearl and O. K. Mammoth Prolific, speak very 
highly ('f these varieties. T!ie <). K. is the best of the three. 



48 

and should be planted by people who can grow the Pperh-ss to 
advantage. We tiiid fault with the quality mostly. 

IJKLLE AND Ul EKN OF THE VALLEY 

Are nearly alike, yield well, but are deticient in (pudity. 
We cannot recomujend them. 

wall's orange 
Is reported to be a splendid potato m a few localities, l)nt the 
majority of planters will soon discard it. The tubers are 
spreading in the hill. Tlie quality is good, though not the 
best. Liable to rot. Valuable as a late keeping sort and a 
free bloomer and seeder. Tops extremely vigorous. It has 
greatly disappointed us. 

white star. 

Tubers resemble Burbank, but are still more regular and 
liandsome in api)earanee ; white, great yielder, and ot fine 
quality. Is claimed to be a better yielder than even White 
Elephant with some growers. We do not find it so. 
white elephant. 

This is our standard of excellence as to quality and yield. 
Tubers are apt to grow prongy, and liable to rot in heavy or 
very rich soils. Otherwise smooth and fair shaped. Resem- 
bles Beauty of Hebron, its twin brother, in shape and color. 
Top growth very thrifty. Plants commence to bloom when 
quite young, and produce blossoms so freely during the greater 
partof the growing season, that the variety can be distinguished 
from afar by the abundance of the white clusters. The VAe- 
])iuint is not a good variety for late spring use, nor is it ]>roof 
against rot or disease. A perfectly white sort of this variety 
is WekPs Jumbo (Ingleside, N. Y.>, though perhaps not supe- 
rior to it in other respects. 

JORDAN'S IMIOLTFIC AND NEW CHAMPION 

Resemble White Ele|)hant somewhat in color and shape, and 
though very fine potatoes, can hardly be sa-id to be superior to it. 

JONES' PRIZE taker 

Is a trifle earlier, and i)erhaps mealier than White Elephant — 
if that be possible, otherwise exactly like it. 



49 

AxMERICAN GIANT. 

Tubers are giants indeed, of fair shape, but only of medium 
quality. Yield very large. 

ADIRONDACK. 

Roundish, with few eyes ; red. Produces very many uni- 
form, medium sized tubers of fair quality. Keeps very late 
without sprouting, aud the tubers are sound and solid in early 
summer, long after other sorts have become unfit for food. 

RUBICUND 

Resembles Adirondack, perhaps more oblong and eyes not so 
deep. Very smooth. 

HOME COMFORT. 

A potato of the rose fomily, very smooth and handsome, very 

large and very late, a vigorous grower. Quality of the very 

best. 

DUCHESS. 

Much ado for nothing. Produces an immense amount of 
foliage and but few tubers. The few specimens, however, will 
often reach gigantic proportions. Good for exhibition purposes, 
but for no other. 

EL PASO 

Has been a complete failure witli us. 

DAKOTA RED. 

Is a very promising variety. Tops, tubers and yield extra 
large. Quality good. Eyes too deep and shape not of the best- 



In the following Schedule, the varieties are compared with 
each other in regard to size of tops (column 1), size of tuber (2j, 
yield (3), quality (4), shape (5), resistance to rot, etc. (6), and 
keeping quality (7). Ten is the standard of excellence. As far 
as yield is concerned, it is supposed that all these varieties are 
treated according to our system, i. e., differently for early and 
late sorts: 



oO 



Name of Variety. 



EXTKA EAKLV. 

Early Ohio 

Lee's Favorite. 

EARLY. 

Early Sunrise 

Early Gem ,, 

Chicago Market 

E;irly Vermont.....,...,,... 

Early Rose., 

Rosy ^lorn 

Beauty of Plebron 

Early May flo wer 

Early Telephone 

INTERMEDIATE. 

Rural Blush 

Big Benefit (Pickering's). 

Magnum Bonum 

Ontario -. ... 

LATE. 

Dunmore seedling 

Mammoth Pearl 

O. K. Mammoth Prolific, . 

Peerless 

Belle 

Queen of the Valley........ 

Wall's orange 

White Star.. 

Burbank 

White Elephant 

Weld's Juml)o 

Jordan's Prolific 

Jones' Prize Taker.......... 

American Giant 

Adirondack 

Rubicund 

Home Comfort 

Duchess 

El Paso 

Dakota Red 



P^.2 
X 



10 

8 
8 
8 

9 

9 
10 

8 

9 

9 
10 

8i 

9 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 

8 

8 
10 
10- 

8 

10* 






9i 
10 
10 
10 
10 
10 

8 

8 

9 
10 

4 
10 



9i 



9 

8. 

9 

8 

8 

8 

9 

9 

9 
10 
10 
10 
10 

9 

9.V 

9i 
10 



10 



9^ 
9.V 
9.\ 
9.^ 
9i 
9\ 

10 

10 

10 



9 
9 

9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 
9 

10 
9^ 
9i 
9i 
9i 
9h 

dh 

9h 
10 
10 



Fail ure. Fail jure. 
9i 9 



t Where no figures are given, we cannot fix the grade from our own 
knowledge. * Extra. 



51 

Our schedule will show you that there is not a single variety 
Aviiich is perfect in all respects. And we doubt that such a one 
will be found very soon. The schedule will need more or less 
modification in different localities. If we were restricted to 
three varieties, we would select Early Ohio for early use; 
White Elephant for main crop ; Adirondack for late use in 
spring. Next we would add Lee's Favorite or Beauty of 
Hebron for early, Dakota Red for main crop. 

THE END. 



DO YOU OWN A HORSE? 

Then send 25c. for Dr. Kendall's 
Treatise ou "The Horse 
and his Diseases." Fully 
illustrated. Containing an 
"index of diseases" which 
gives the symptoms, eause. 
and best treatment of each'. 
A table giving all the princi- 
pal drugs used for the hor.se, 
with the ordinary dose, 
eft'eets, and antidote when 
a poison ; a table with an en- 
arraving of the horse's 
teeth at different ages, 
with rules for telling the age 
of the horse, a valuable 
collection ot receipts, and 
much other useful information. Thousands who have seen the 




DooK coramenci it, ana manv gooa norseraen sa\ i-ue.\ preier it 
to boolis costing $5.00. It contains nothing which should 
exclude it from the most refined family, but it should be read by 
all, as it teaches humane principles, and elevates the morals by 
reminding us that "the merciful man is merciful to his 
beast." Order now and send 25 cents in .-tamps or postal-note, and 
receive book, post-paid, by return mail. Address, 

P oultry for PLEASURE 

AND 

P oultry for profit. 

We are called upon now-a-days to give just the best possible goods 
for the least possible money. A Poultry Book is wanted lor 
S5 cents, which will be complete in itself. To supply this want we 
submit this little book, 

"POULTRY FOR PLEASURE AND POULTRY FOR PROFIT." 

It is intended to give the reader a good understanding of the differ- 
ent varieties of fowls ; show up the good qualities of each, and let 
him see which are best adapted to special wants. 

It is intended to show how best to house them and care for 
them, that a person may derive profit from them and enjoy them ; 
also to arm the poultryman against diseases which threaten his 
fowls. 

All of the important features of the business that are attracting 
special attention at the present time. Incubators and Capons are 
discussed with intended fairness to all. 

InPARTlV.-Subject: 

"KEEPING POULTRY ON A LARGE SCALE." 

Is the only solution of the question " How can it be done and 
pa.v ? " 

There are good illustratioTis of some of the principal varieties ot 
fowls, also of the best Poultry Houses for the. fancier or e.xtensive 
poultry keeper. 

Sent on receipt of S5 cents, or 6 books for $1.00. Postal 
Notes preferred. 

FRANKLIN NEWS COMPANY, 

PHILADELPHIA, PENJiA. 



53 



Franklin News Co., 

PUBLISHERS OF BOOKS. 
N ATIOrr All STANDARD DICTZOZT AHIT 



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